Making a tea light holder
I’ve started turning a batch of tea light holders and thought I’d post some photo’s of the first one being made. I’m using spalted beech, which is ideal for smaller decorative pieces…
Below is the first of many planks, which have been machined to my ‘standard’ size. I’ve marked each tea light blank with a compass, avoiding cracks and being creative with the spalted lines!…
Cutting a blank on the bandsaw…
The top photo shows just some of the pieces I’ve cut - there’s so many interesting markings! I start the process by mounting the blank on the lathe. There’s no need to use a faceplate – just grip it with the jaws…
I shape the top surface and then cut the inner hole. I do this with a custom made tool, which is great for getting into corners. I then sand and finish this surface – including inside the hole...
With the top completed, I turn the blank around. By using pin jaws on the chuck, I can grip it from inside the hole…
The underneath turned to its final shape…
The finished tea light holder – it just needs a tea light!...
